Long before sitting in meditation became something fashionable as it is today, meditation was a way of life for spiritual souls who longed to still the restless mind.
The Rishis sat in meditation for hundreds and thousands of years so that they could listen to the Word of God from within them. From the Word of God they heard, we received priceless gems of spiritual treasures in the form of Vedas, Upanishads, mantras.
It is said that even Lord Buddha had experimented with over ten thousand techniques in meditation! Okay, I must say that I don't have any "proof" but that's the buzz in the spiritual realm.
While many of us struggle with it, it helps to understand what happens inside us when we meditate.
Whenever I meditate, my experience varies from day to day. There is just one exception though. I always see a lotus with baby pink petals blossom in my heart region and as I meditate, the petals turn a pale, beautiful gold. Following this, I see very clearly a smiling vision of my God and Guru - Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
What surprises me is that this repeats itself every day. I have not understood the "spiritual" significance of this experience but I feel the "sweetness" of it around my heart. And I wanted to share it here for those who mediate. [Do read: Meditation: Signs of Progress & How to identify a Real Vision from a False One]
And here's a quote from a highly revered Siddha Yogi - Baba Muktananda - about what happens within you when you meditate. [Also do read: How Raja Yoga unites mind power with cosmic power]
How do you meditate? What challenges do you face in keeping the mind still and how do you tackle it as you continue meditating? Do share your thoughts & meditation experiences here...it will definitely inspire many others on the spiritual path.
Comments
I have had the privilege to be interested in meditation for a number of years, try to do it, go to a number of ashrams, satsangs, around the country, enquire with saints and yogis and find that the true state of meditation is nothing but "being". When you can just sit for some time everyday, anchor your awareness on the breath or the point between the eyebrows, and just watch, watch and watch whatever the mind brings forth without being disturbed or agitated; then one day Meditation will happen my friend. If you fight or flow with your mind Or be desperate for the meditation experience, you would be lost all your life behind a lost cause with some minor experiences. I affirm, avoid fight/flight attitude with the thoughts!
Meditation when it happens-after we set the conditions/atmosphere for it, can reveal our true nature of the self (jivatman) and clear all the notions and perceptions of the tainted world we have all painted. It gives us the ability to look at everything "As it Is", without distorting with our perceptions; thereby letting God to communicate in the depth-full state of Silence.
We can also convert any activity we do into Mediation, by mindfulness and surrendering to the Now. Please read Eckhart Tolle's 'Power of Now' to know more.
Practice, alone with sincerity and devotion is the Answer. :)
PS: Letting go is an art and trick to be perfected through Meditation.
Thanks & Humble Regards.
Ratheesh Menon